Australia will roll out long-awaited sweeping restrictions on gambling advertising, including a ban on endorsements by celebrities and sports stars, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Thursday, calling it the most significant reform in the sector.
The measures, set to come into force from 2027, are aimed at reducing public health risks linked to gambling and limiting children’s exposure to betting promotions. “The government is taking decisive action to tackle the community and public health concerns associated with gambling,” Albanese said.
Under the new rules, gambling advertisements on broadcast television will be capped at three per hour between 6 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. A complete ban will apply during live sports broadcasts within those hours.
Radio advertisements will not be allowed during school drop-off and pick-up times, while online promotions will be restricted to logged-in users aged over 18, with an option to opt out.
The reforms will also prohibit the use of celebrities and sports personalities in gambling promotions. Branding linked to betting companies will be removed from sports venues as well as player and official uniforms.
Albanese said the move would help curb what he described as a “deluge of advertisements” reaching children.
The changes are expected to affect major online betting firms operating in Australia, including Flutter Entertainment, which owns Sportsbet, and Entain, which operates Ladbrokes.
Shares of Tabcorp Holdings, the country’s second-largest gambling company, fell 2.4% in afternoon trading, compared with a 0.8% decline in the broader ASX200 index.
Australia is considered the world’s largest gambling market and records the highest per-capita betting losses globally. The government’s approach focuses on reducing harm while allowing regulated gambling activity.
In India, the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, prohibits online money gaming, including betting and gambling, and extending the ban to their advertising and promotion. Any form of promotion, across television, digital platforms or through influencers, is not permitted, with penalties including fines and potential imprisonment for violations.
The law allows non-monetary formats such as e-sports and certain skill-based games to operate under regulation, meaning their advertisements are not banned but must follow prescribed guidelines.
First Published on April 2, 2026, 15:23:12 IST
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.storyboard18.com ’
